Would you mind doing ~? - O.K.

Question

Hi!What do you think of the following conversation?A: Would you mind doing ~ for me?B: O.K. I can do that instead.What I want to know is:Do you say "O.K." when sb says "Would you mind doing ~?"Thanks in advance.

Clive · Accepted Answer

The most natural answer is
eg No.
eg No. I wouldn't mind.

Someone might say 'OK', meaning 'OK, I will do whatever you want me to'.

Clive

Niue · Answer

Thanks, Clive.
Would you please take a look at the following?

I read the following script in a TOEIC book:

"23. Man: Would you mind filling in for me for tomorrow's lecture?

(A) Woman: O.K. I can do that instead.
(B) Woman: Sorry, it's already full.
(C) Woman: I'll have to check my calendar.

(Answer: C)" ((Pagoda TOEIC 1,000 questions - Listening, Test 4))

Let me explain why A is NOT correct. In (A), we don't know what "that" refers to. Thus, (A) is not a clear answer.
(Only with the original question "Would you mind filling in for me for tomorrow's lecture?", we don't know what the woman will do for him. Therefore, "I can do that." is not understandable.)

What do you think? Am I right?
Thanks in advance.

Khoff · Answer

The problem with answer (A) is not "that," which clearly refers to "filling in for the questioner for tomorrow's lecture."  The problem is "instead."  Instead of what?  No alternative has been mentioned.

Niue · Answer

Thank you for your simple and clear answer, khoff.
How about the following explanation?

I've found the problem with answer (A) by analyzing the answer into the following:

#1. O.K. I can do that instead (of you). =
#2. O.K. I can fill in for you instead (of you). =
#3. O.K. I can do your job instead of you instead (of you).

As you can see in #3, 'instead' is used twice, and the second "instead" is redundant.
Thus, "instead" in the answer (A) should be eliminated.

However, in the following case, there is NO problem, I think:

"Man : Can you attend tomorrow's meeting if I can't?
Woman: O.K. I could go instead."

#1. O.K. I could go instead (of you). =
#2. O.K. I could go there instead (of you). =
#3. O.K. I could attend the meeting instead (of you).

What do you think? Do you agree with me?
Thansk in advance.

Sica · Answer

Niue"23. Man: Would you mind filling in for me for tomorrow's lecture?

(A) Woman: O.K. I can do that instead.

It seems to me that this reply is absolutely right and appropriate for accepting the questioner's offer.
I can do that instead = I can do that instead of you (in the place of questioner).

Khoff · Answer

Niue Man: Would you mind filling in for me for tomorrow's lecture?

(A) Woman: O.K. I can do that instead.

Sorry, but when I read the original dialogue, the meaning "instead of you" does not occur to me -- not even after you have pointed out that possible interpretation. I read it as "instead of something else I was planning to do, " or "instead of something else you asked me to do for you."

I suppose I should not go so far as to claim that no native speaker would understand it as "instead of you," but it seems very, very unlikely to me. For one thing, "that" refers to "filling in" for the original speaker -- would the original speaker "fill in for "himself? The only way I can see "instead" making sense in the reply is if it means "instead of doing something else."

Would you mind filling in for me in tomorrow's lecture?
Well, I was going to get my hair cut, but I guess I could do that instead.
I thought you wanted me to pick up the kids, but I could do that instead.

If you want "instead" to mean "instead of you," you need a more specific verb than "do that." For instance:

I was going to to to the store, but I twisted my ankle.
Okay, I can go instead, if you stay home with the kids.

Sorry I can't explain the reason very well, but I feel very strongly that "instead" in the original example would not be understood as "instead of you" by most native speakers.

Niue · Answer

Many thanks, khoff!
I think you've given me an explicit feeling and opinion, and that is as good as a good explanation!

Khoff · Answer

Oh good. I'm glad it helped.

Would you mind doing ~? - O.K.

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